Passenger conveyor control system having decentralized inputs and outputs

Abstract

A control system for a passenger conveyor includes a plurality of junction boxes distributed throughout the conveyor and a control unit. The control unit communicates with the plurality of junction boxes through a serial link that interconnects the junction boxes and control unit. In a particular embodiment, the control unit is located remotely from the truss of the conveyor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control system for a passenger conveyor, the passenger conveyor including a truss, passenger carrying means disposed within the truss, means for driving the passenger carrying means disposed within the truss and engaged with the passenger carrying means, a plurality of operational interface devices, and the control system, wherein the control system includes: a plurality of junction boxes, each junction box having at least one input/output (I/O) module, each I/O module in communication with one or more of the plurality of operational interface devices;   a control unit in communication with the driving means of the passenger conveyor, the control unit including a bus master;   a link for providing serial communication between the plurality of I/O modules and the control unit.   
     
     
       2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is located remotely from the truss. 
     
     
       3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the passenger conveyor includes a pair of landings disposed on opposite ends of the passenger conveyor, and wherein one of the plurality of junction boxes in located in the first landing of the passenger conveyor and another of the plurality of junction boxes is located in the opposite landing of the passenger conveyor. 
     
     
       4. The control system according to claim 1, further including a subsystem having an I/O module and an operational interface, the operational interface device being in communication with the I/O module of the subsystem, and wherein the subsystem I/O module is in communication with the bus master through the serial link.